Mozilla Firefox Tries to Calm Users Over Sponsored Tabs Tests

But it says it will continue to test changes to Firefox

Mozilla is trying to mitigate user worries about the amount of ads that could end up appearing in new-tab pages of its Firefox browser.

In a post on Mozilla’s blog, Mozilla Firefox VP Johnathan Nightingale noted that users were concerned that incorporating advertisements in new tab pages would “turn Firefox into a mess of logos sold to the highest bidder; without user control, without user benefit.” Nightingale dismissed such concerns, writing, “that’s not who we are at Mozilla.”

Mozilla said it would begin testing new-tab ads earlier this year, though no ads have actually appeared so far. The company is looking to evaluate both potential content and user reactions. Other browsers generate revenue through new-tab page ads. Mozilla Firefox currently gets most of its revenue from search-engine referral fees from Google (GOOG), CNET notes.

Nightingale said that Mozilla Firefox would continue to test new features in the near term. “These tests are purely to understand what our users find helpful and what our users ignore or disable — these tests are not about revenue and none will be collected,” he explained.

Other browsers have generated revenue through new-tab page ads. Mozilla Firefox currently gets most of its revenue from search-engine referral fees from Google (GOOG).